Spartans start season 2-0

Sunday, Feburary 20, 2011
SJSU 5 Saint Mary's 1
After having their season opener postponed due to rain, the Spartans (1-0) opened the season on Sunday with a 5-1 victory over the visiting Saint Mary's Gaels (0-1).
Preseason WAC Pitcher of the Year Blake McFarland had a strong start to his senior campaign, lasting 4.2 innings and allowing just one run on an RBI single in the fourth by Saint Mary's Brendan Kalfus.
Roberto Padilla made his Spartan debut in relief, holding the Gaels scoreless in 4.1 innings of work while striking out six.
Padilla earned the win out of the pen for his first Division I victory after transfering from nearby Ohlone College last year.
Cather Michael DiRocco, also a Ohlone product, led the Spartans at the plate with a 2-3 day and two RBIs.
The offense was also fueled by Nick Borg's RBI single and 2-4 day while Craig Hertler added an RBI of his own on a fifth inning double.

Monday, Feburary 21, 2011
SJSU 2 Saint Mary's 0
Nick Borg's solo home run proved to be all the Spartans needed Monday as they defeated Saint Mary's 2-0 in Moraga, Calif.
The Spartans (2-0) have allowed just one run in 18 innings of play with Saint Mary's (0-2) during their two-game stint.
Starter Andy Hennessey threw 4.2 innings of scoreless ball before reliever John Austin came in from the pen with two out in the fifth inning to get SJSU out of a jam and earn his first win of the year.
Hennessey ran into trouble early in the first inning with runners at first and third and no one out, but was helped out when catcher Michael DiRocco threw out a runner at second. With one out, SJSU outfielder Tim Quiery hosed a runner trying to score from third on a fly-ball off the bat of Troy Channing for an inning ending double-play.
Sophomore Zack Jones also made an impressive debut on the hill, striking out four of the six batters his faced in route to his first save of the season.
Jones consistenly registered on the gun at 95 mph but topped out at 98 at one point in the game.
Offensively the Spartans were once again led by DiRocco who had two hits for the second day in a row. Borg finished 2-4 with the lone home run of the ballgame and is hitting .500 for the young season.
The Spartans return to the diamond tonight against UC Davis at Municipal Stadium. First pitch is set for 6 p.m.